Business Discussions

      Have you ever wanted to share your knowledge on the big stage? If so, David Knapp-Fisher is the guy you need to know! David created his dream job after discovering how much he loved chatting about personal development with individuals who were seeking to better their lives and their work.   We spoke with David about why it's so important to stick to a schedule when you're just starting out, and he shared his tips for how to get better at networking and building your personal brand — a vital skill for small business owners and freelancers everywhere.   Take it away, David!     Name: David Knapp Fisher Business: David Knapp-Fisher Started: September 2014    How did you create your awesome job?  I'm an inspirational speaker. I share information at conferences on how people can support themselves in achieving their goals. I always knew I wanted to be a speaker, and I love to talk to groups about personal development. I

  Emiley Cox quit her management job in construction one lunchtime without a backup plan. After the dust settled, she decided to follow her heart and her passion for fashion. She threw everything into creating her own online boutique and sold a yellow sundress to her very first customer within 15 minutes of launching.   We spoke with Emiley to find out just how she did it.     Name: Emiley Cox Business: EMILIA Started: January 2015   How did you create your awesome job? I always wanted to open a boutique. At first, I wanted it to be a brick-and-mortar store. But as I got older I realized that it was safer to start online because there were fewer upfront costs.   I was working as a manager at a corporate construction company and hated my job. One day, at lunchtime, I just got up and quit. The same day I talked with a friend who designs websites and decided then and there to start my own business.    Thankfully, I’m good at saving,

  Lyss Aviles is a designer, photographer, social media strategist *and* printmaker — but she hasn’t always tapped into all of her talents at once to earn a living.    When the multi-talented entrepreneur first started freelancing, she says her lack of business acumen meant she soon gave up and returned to working full-time at a design firm. A couple of years (and a lot of research) later, Lyss was finally ready to go ahead with launching her company once again.    We chatted with her about how she uses Facebook to bring in new customers and why she believes that understanding the value of what you do is key to pricing effectively.   Read on to hear her inspiring story!     Name: Lyss Aviles   Business: The Lovely Lyss   Started: 2012   How did you create your awesome job?   I decided to start my business right out of design school. I wanted to have the freedom of working from home and having my own clien

  After manufacturing a unique clothing line out of her home-based workspace in LA, Jillian Maddocks has been building a name for herself in the fashion industry — one pair of oversized denim overalls at a time. With a focus on supporting her local women’s shelter and a unique feminist symbol as part of her clothing, her company is growing slowly but surely.    Jillian spoke with us about where she’s found surprising successes and why keeping her workspace organized is what keeps her sane.     Name: Jillian Maddocks   Business: 323   Started: June 2015     How did you create your awesome job?   323 is a women’s oversized clothing brand, made mostly from denim. I sell everything from dresses to t-shirts and have created a bit of a following with this feminist logo I designed called the ‘infinite boobs’ symbol. I also donate 3% of all my sales to the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, which provides safe, permane

  Fresh out of college, printmaker and artist Zoe Zietman was inspired to start selling her original works on Etsy, using the platform to reflect her "shop local, shop small" ethos. While her business is still only in its early stages, she’s receiving rave reviews and a loyal following.    We chatted with Zoe about finding the confidence to promote her own work, learning to sell her designs for the right price and why she *loves* Instagram.                       Name: Zoe Zietman  Business: Zoe Zietman Illustration and Design  Started: Summer 2016   What led you to decide that you wanted to create your own business?  I've always made illustrations. I started freelancing just before I went to college in 2011 and then began to think about selling my art — not just making graphic design work on commission — about a year ago. I knew that I really liked the Etsy platform&nbsp

  Bridget Dorr has always wanted to bring beauty into other people's lives. The creative entrepreneur started out working with art as therapy and after realizing exactly which part of the jigsaw was missing, she set up her own small business. Now, she creates stunning pieces in clay and ceramics to sell on her Etsy site.   We spoke to Bridget about the journey of learning to trust her own work, how she manages running a busy business day-to-day and what she's hoping to learn next from all of *you.*     Name: Bridget Dorr Business: Bridget Dorr Ceramics Started: 2013   How did you create your awesome job? I studied Art Therapy in college and hoped to use it to help heal people in my community. I worked with adults with disabilities for several years, but found that I was missing something from my life: I needed to express myself. Clay and ceramics were always my passion in school, so I began making small pieces here and there for enjoyment. Once

  The entrepreneurial spirit runs in Corissa Colamartini’s blood, so creating her first company — an online jewelry store called TheTamerlane — seemed only natural. The talented maker even says that she feels happier in life now that she's running her own biz.   We chatted to Corissa about finding time to relax when she has a busy schedule and learning to price her designs. Plus, read on to find out the one question she has for all of *you.*     Name: Corissa Colamartini Business: TheTamerlane Started: 2008   How did you decide to start your awesome business?   I began by making jewelry for myself. People would ask me where I got my items from, and they would compliment them. It clicked pretty quickly that I should try selling my pieces!   I first opened my Etsy shop just over eight years ago. It was a great place for me to get my start, as it was pretty easy to set up and not very expensive. Suddenly, I could reac

  Kirsten Hausman knew she wanted to do something a little different with the bouquets for her wedding, so she handcrafted her own eco-friendly paper versions. Once the big day arrived, the faux flowers went down so well that the fledgling entrepreneur decided to start selling them on Etsy! Her brand new hobby became a full-time business not long after that.   We spoke with Kirsten about what it was like to be featured in Etsy's newsletter, the importance of valuing her own work and the benefits of interacting face-to-face with her customers.     Name: Kirsten Hausman Business: FlowerThyme Handgrown Paper Flowers Started: 2010   How did you start your awesome business?   Necessity is the mother of invention! I taught myself how to make flowers out of paper and fabric when I was planning my own wedding, and I enjoyed making them so much that I continued afterwards. After some encouragement from my family I started an Etsy shop, and

  Throughout his career working in pet food sales, Chris Dennis always put his heart and soul into helping animal shelters out. When he realized that big companies aren't doing enough to give back to local humane societies, he decided to put his industry experience to use by founding GivePet, a business that makes all-natural dog treats. For every bag that’s sold, he donates 10 treats to shelters.   We spoke with Chris about hooking up with new retailers by traveling state to state and why he wishes he’d started his company much, much earlier.   Take it away, Chris!     Name: Chris Dennis   Business: GivePet   Started: May 2016   What inspired you to create your business?   My sister owns an animal rescue center in Texas and she encouraged me many years ago to get involved in the pet industry. I took her lead and answered an ad for a job in pet food sales and have worked in the field for more than 16 years now. I’v

  Olivia Howell worked as a middle school Latin teacher before she decided to turn her flair for blogging and social media into a full-time career. She opened her own boutique social media management agency out of her Long Island home so that she could better care for her young son. Now she juggles her clients' blogs and social media accounts in tandem with her toddler’s nap schedule.   Here she opens up about her approach to client outreach, the art of the business-to-nap workday ratio and her personal pricing philosophy.     Name: Olivia Howell   Business: Howell Social Media   Started: 2014   Tell us a bit about your background. How did you come to create your business?   My background is actually in classical languages and education. I was a Latin teacher for seven years before having my son. During that time, I also wrote and managed a blog with my sister and I learned so much about blogging!    After my

  When an attempt to sell her porcelain wares proved successful, Heather McCalla realized she had the beginnings of a business. Winning a major competition pushed her to commit to her venture, guided by the expertise of her peers in the craft industry.   Recently, she readjusted her schedule so that she could combine the teaching job she loves with her work in the studio. Now, Heather is eager to find the perfect price point for her products and learn more about managing her accounts.   We spoke to Heather about juggling multiple jobs, tackling late-night emails and knowing when it's time to take a risk with her pricing.                       Name: Heather McCalla Business: Heather McCalla Studio Started: Spring 2015   How did you create your awesome job? It sort of came out of necessity! I teach at a university but it doesn’t pay well, so I decided to try to supplement my income. I thought

  Jeff Langevin has a modest outlook on his art and design business. But with a steady stream of sales coming into his Etsy shop every day, he's on the brink of building a long-term business that will help him bring in passive income for years to come.   We chatted with Jeff to learn more about the stunning prints he's selling online, the formula he uses to price his pieces and what he's hoping to learn next from all of *you.*     Name: Jeff Langevin   Business: Jeff Langevin Art & Design   Started: September 2012     How did you create your awesome job?   I have always been into visual art, but I didn’t start making items I felt could be worth selling until 2012. When my wife and I moved across the country so she could pursue her PhD, I left my graphic design job behind. I decided to make a go at selling my artwork, both at in-person fairs and online through Etsy.   Who was your very first customer?   Des

  As QuickBooks Connect 2016 approaches, we're sharing a series of special sneak previews highlighting the fantastic lineup of speakers you can look forward to at this year's event.   Today, we're giving a big, warm welcome to Stacy Kildal, Advanced Certified ProAdvisor. Stacy is an internationally known expert in QuickBooks Online who has been named one of Accounting's Most Powerful Women. She was the first ProAdvisor to complete the QuickBooks Online Certification Exam and holds several other QuickBooks certifications. She's also the co-founder and co-host of QBOShow.com, where she interviews industry thought leaders. She is known as the QuickBooks Online "Godmother," but is also an expert in the desktop products.   At her session titled Using Google Forms in your business, attendees will learn how to use Google Forms in their practice.     Name: Stacy Kildal   Session: Using Google Forms in your business on Tuesd

  After originally pursuing two very different careers, friends Helena Chapman and Maja Griffith decided to embark on developing a range of bioactive facial oils. With no previous skincare experience between them, they harnessed their passion to create their dream business.   We chatted with Helena to find out more about their journey from the kitchen sink to the beauty halls and why they believe that transparency is the key to finding the right price point for your product.                     Name: Helena Chapman Business: Rosalena Skincare Started: November 2014   How did you create your awesome company?  We met at our kids’ preschool and discussed how our skin had been all over the place since having our families. We both wanted a range of natural face oils that could be used every day, were well priced and beautiful to use. We felt so bombarded by how many choices were out there but not at all

  Kristina Montanye wanted to find an original idea in order to stand out from the crowd when it came to starting her own business. After some brainstorming, she decided on combining her dual talents for digital graphics and art to create hand-crafted rubber stamps.   We chatted with her to learn more about how she prices her products, the social media channels that work best for bringing in new customers and why she says being different is the *best* business strategy.   Take it away, Kristina!   Name: Kristina Montanye   Business: Stamp Couture   Started: 2010   How did you create your awesome job?   Drawing and artwork have always been my talents and my pastime, so I taught myself Adobe Illustrator and started creating digital graphics. When I heard about Etsy back in 2010, I wondered if I might be able to create products with my designs and sell them online.   From the beginning, I wanted a niche business. I did

  The quirky prayer candles created by California's Kerrin Piche Serna are, in her Etsy tagline's words, "False Idols for Real Worship." Tapping into a pop-culture market, they give fans a chance to create light-hearted shrines to their favorite celebrities, from Prince to the Golden Girls.   We caught up with Kerrin to chat about why she *loves* getting feedback from her customers and how important it is for her to build a coherent brand.   Take it away, Kerrin!     Name: Kerrin Piche Serna   Business: The Eternal Flame   Started: January 2016   What inspired you to create your Etsy business?   I was exploring Etsy and found a set of prayer candles depicting characters from the TV series Golden Girls that I absolutely fell in love with. However, they were kind of expensive and, as a videographer, I was already pretty savvy with Photoshop so I thought I could probably make my own.   I went ahead and created my own versions, and they t

  Samantha Ives has always had the creative bug. As a 17-year-old, she was already selling her homemade designs at local crafts fairs. After finishing college, she soon decided to start her own business, Maker & Mineral.   The brand has since morphed from selling bags to clothing, and with Sam’s work gaining in popularity, she’s looking to expand her customer base beyond her native San Francisco.    We talked about the benefits of working for yourself, the difficulties of defining success and the confusion of completing tax returns!      Name: Samantha Ives      Business: Maker & Mineral    Started: Spring 2015   How did you create your business?      It's been a long time in the making. I’ve wanted to be a designer and creator since I was a kid.    I started a t-shirt business when I was a teenager and when I went off to college I studied fine art. Once I got home, I was tryin

    After realizing the idea he had for a decorative indoor fountain would be easy to make himself, copper worker-turned-ceramicist Keith Davitt put his concept into practice. Not long afterwards, his kitty had commandeered it as a container for drinking water, sparking the idea for a new business.   We had a chat with the owner of Thirsty Cat Fountains to find out what he learned after hiring his first employees, how he manages his day-to-day and the big question he has for all of *you.*   Let's hear from Keith!     Name: Keith Davitt   Business: Thirsty Cat Fountains   Started: February 2010   Tell us the story behind what inspired you to start a small business selling ceramic water fountains for cats!   I had an idea for a fountain I wanted to make, so I went to a potter to have the bowl produced. I was going to attach it with copper stems and leaves that water would spill from, but when I went to pick it

  After completing a degree in Tourism, Marion Bouquet knew she wanted to create a work-from-anywhere job to support her love of travel. But it was a surprise request from one of her first clients that helped her successfully transition from part-time translator to nomadic voiceover artist.   Marion talked us through how she grows her business while still managing to keep her afternoons free for hiking, hanging out with friends and dabbling in her passion for painting. Read on to hear her story!     Name: Marion Bouquet   Business: Voice That, Frenchie!   Started: March 2013   How did you create your awesome job?   After I graduated with my degree in Tourism, I spent the summer in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. I went to a Couchsurfing event there and met a guy who told me he was traveling and working at the same time. I thought, “I should find a way to do that, too!”   I started applying for translation jobs on the site Upwork

  Having been trained extensively as a printmaker, Erin Dollar decided to apply her skills to creating functional homeware made with organic materials and nontoxic inks — and she created a business along the way! Through being an early user of Pinterest, Erin has amassed a loyal and wide-ranging customer base. We spoke with her about transitioning from a personal brand to a business, making the leap to full-time self-employment and why she says it's so important to appreciate the present moment.                       Name: Erin Dollar Business: Cotton & Flax Started: Winter 2011    How did you create your awesome business?  I studied printmaking in college and completely fell in love with it. I learned mainly traditional techniques to make fine-art prints on paper and was selling those for a few years on a personal Etsy shop.    After graduating, I lived in Portland and shared a

  From playing in a band by night to sprinkling some social media magic in the restaurant industry by day, Skip Blankley began his journey as an entrepreneur in 2007. But it was only when he found a mentor and widened his net that his new business — an online marketing and web design agency — took off.    We got in touch with Skip to talk about his favorite apps, how he learned to measure the value of his time and why he loves a good challenge.      Name: Skip Blankley   Business: NoBox Creatives   Started: August 2013   How did you create your awesome job?    It started as another venture called Social Relish, an online marketing and web design business for the restaurant industry. I chose that field because I spent a decade working in it in various capacities.    I started the business while I was in a band and playing four or five nights a week, because my days were wide open. But I soon realized it wa

  After becoming frustrated with the world of fashion and how little consumers know about how products are made, Jess Murray decided it was time to do things her way. Now that she runs her own small business, Jess creates items she can ethically support and she makes business decisions that reflect the value she places on transparency and high-quality materials.    Jess talked to us about what motivates her to work crazy hours and why she wouldn't change any of it for the world.   Name: Jess Murray   Business: Aegis Handcraft   Started: July 2013     How did you create your awesome job?   The original idea developed from a not-so-great work experience. I had just graduated with a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco. I got a couple gigs working in the industry, but something just kept eating away at me. I was working as a denim tailor in a place that, while pr

  After dabbling in handbags, bookmarks and buttons, it was her first Etsy customer who helped put rubber stamp maker Martina Webb on the road to success with her small business.   We spoke to Martina about the evolution of her company and the importance of researching your products thoroughly before setting up shop.     Name: Martina Webb   Business: Blossom Stamps   Started: 2008   How did you create your awesome job?   I kept seeing Etsy being brought up on a crafting website called Craftster.org that I follow, back in 2005, but had no idea what it was. When I finally checked it out, I knew I had to open a shop — but I didn’t know yet what I’d sell.   I started my original shop, Blossom Arts, in 2006 and settled on sewing handbags and making beaded bookmarks. My handbags often featured a large decorative buttons, so I learned how to make my own out of polymer clay. The buttons evolved into polymer clay pendants and after

  After years of searching for the perfect beach bag, friends Lara Cross and Theresa Waterlow decided to combine their talents and hone the skills they'd learned from their former careers to create the perfect summer accessory. 300 bags and 1,500 pompoms later, Crosslow is riding on a wave of success.   We caught up with the duo to talk about how they came up with idea for their business and lessons learned along the way.   Take it away, ladies!   Name: Lara Cross and Theresa Waterlow Business: Crosslow  Started: 2016   How did you two decide to create a business together? We went on vacation together, and ended up discussing the perfect beach bag. When we got home, we had a proper creative brainstorm and decided to just create our own!    We met up at one of our homes and pulled out all the baskets we own. We decided what we liked and what we didn’t about each one — the shapes, the handles, the size. There was one style

  When James Barber realized he wanted to escape his predictable job and find a new creative challenge, he turned to the skills he'd learned in art school — and launched his own range of functional sculptures. Soon, he was taking his weird and wonderful products to fairs across the state of New York.    Now, he's keen to find ways to continue to grow his business and reach a bigger audience. We spoke to James about uncertainty, determining the value of unique pieces and approaching experimentation without fear.    Name: James Barber   Business: Yes Pls   Started: Fall 2015   How did you create your awesome job?   My background is in fine art — I studied sculpture at the University of Minnesota. When I graduated, I worked for companies that made custom-built artworks, which allowed me to expand on the skills I’d learned at school.    About a year and a half ago, I made a decision to shift my focus away from